224 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



foxes killed ; but the cub-hunting Boxall describes as the 

 worst season he has seen, ' ' owing to dry weather and no 

 scent." 



" November 5th. Cold Norton. — Found iii Cold Norton Gorse. Went away 

 at a good pace towards Pirehill, then bearing towards Whitgreave, leaving Yarlet 

 Hill on the left, to Marston, back by Aston, Pirehill to Micklow Gorse, where, 

 I think, we changed, but hounds kept going on, and ran to gi-ound in a pit-hole 

 near Cold Norton, after a very good fifty minutes. Drew Mr. Ball's osier-bed, 

 Shallowford Gorse, Yeld's Rough, and Holland's Wood blank. Found in Baden- 

 hall. Had a very nice hunt by Chebsey and Hilcote, and stopped the hounds 

 towards Sugnall. Our first run from Cold Norton is up to this day the run of 

 the season ; after the heavy storm scent was not so good. 



" December dth, 1898. Great Bridgeford. — Drew Cresswell blank. Found 

 in Hopton Gorse — a brace. Ran one to ground one field away. Drew several 

 coverts about Yarlet blank. Foimd in Shallowford Gorse. Had a very good 

 hunting run by Micklow Goi"se, Darlaston Park, over the Trent by Meaford Inn, 

 on to the Outlanes, and over Downs Banks ; then to Barlaston, and went to gi-ound 

 in Newstead Wood. One hour and twenty-five minutes. The run from 

 Shallowford Gorse was a very nice hunting run, and an unusual one considering 

 the fox had to swim the river Trent, then a canal, and cross the North Stafford 

 Railway near Stone Station. 



" December 10th, 1898. Loggerheads. — Drew the Burnt Woods blank. Found 

 in the hilly part of Bishop's Woods — a brace— but did nothing. Hounds marked 

 a fox to ground in Broughton Birches; bolted him, and killed in the wood. 

 Just when hounds had eaten him, another bolted out of the same earth, and had 

 a very nice gallop by the Rudge, through Broughton Park, and ran him to ground 

 near Fair Oaks. Drew Charnes blank. Found three foxes in Standon Rough. 

 Had a sharp burst about fifteen minutes ; ran him to ground near the covert. 

 Found again in the Rough. Had a capital run, leaving Standon Hall on the 

 left, by Standon Home to Swinchurch, nearly to Hatton, by the Clayholders to 

 Shortwood and Podmore. Hounds raced up to their fox and rolled him over 

 near Bromley Coppice, after the best forty-five minutes we have had up to now. 

 Rather a windy day. Did nothing in the Big Woods ; but we had the best after- 

 noon's sport of the season. The second run from Standon Rough was very good 

 all through. 



^^ December 12th, 1898. Doddington. — Found in Chapel Wood, and ran 

 him to ground in the Long Belt. Drew Walgherton Wood, Lea Park, Blaken- 

 hall Moss blank. Found in Robinhood Wood; beat us near Betley Road 

 Station. Found in Finson's Hayes Gorse. Had a very nice gallop to Bellaport. 

 Here hounds got split up. The leading hounds went on, and ran fast to Rich- 

 wardine back through the Glades, and ran him to ground at Cobscot. Whilst 

 these hounds were away, Dean arrived with the fox we had nm to gi'ound at 

 Doddin"ton ; turned him down near Bellaport, and beat us near Dorrington. A 

 laro-e field out, and had an enjoyable day, but an unlucky one, owing to a train 

 ninnin"- into the hounds near Betley Road Station, on the London and North- 

 western Railway, and killing poor Active, one of our best bitches also our prize 

 bitch in 1897— a great loss." 



A lawn meet was arranged for Trentham on December 

 23rd 1898, on the occasion of the presentation of the 



